“Thieves of the Abundant Life”

Rejecting the Abundant Life

Scripture:            Mark 4:2-9, 13-20

C.I.:                Counterfeits of the Abundant Life

We’ve been studying… - Today we will conclude this series… SONG before lesson #595

The thing about a counterfeit is that it looks so good – just like the real thing – but it is a fake – WORTHLESS!!

I. Two Counterfeits of the “Abundant Life”:

A.  “Things & Money”

1. (Mk. 4:18-19), “…but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in – and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

a. Satan counterfeits the abundant life – by making us think that the Abundant Life = An Abundance of THINGS!!

b. The “Abundant Life” is NOT obtained by focusing on someTHING - but on SomeONE!!!

2. This is not a current problem – but it is a very old recent problem…

a. (Rev. 3:17), “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ – and you do not know that you are wretched & miserable & poor….”

b. (Rev. 3:20), “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; - if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, - I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

3. “Things & Money” are not evil – but our attitude towards them may need to be changed - (I Tim. 6:10), “For the LOVE OF MONEY is a root of all sorts of evil, - and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith – and pierced themselves with many a grief.”

a. Yet God has told us how to deal with these “things” – so that we may yet enjoy the Abundant Life

b. (I Tim. 6:17-18), “Instruct those who are rich in this present world – not to become conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, - but on God, - who richly supplies us with all good things to enjoy. – Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share.”

c. The “Things” of this life – can either be a tool we use to be draw ourselves & others closer to Jesus – or a wedge that drives us away from Him!

B.  “Religion”

1. Believing that Religion Brings the Abundant Life – IS Satan’s Greatest Counterfeit!!!

a. Anytime people believe the“Abundant Life” is characterized by their external practices of religion  – they have missed the genuine article – and have accepted the counterfeit!!!

b. (Matthew 6:1), “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men in order to be noticed by them; - otherwise you will have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”

c. When “coming to church” takes the place of our daily walk with Jesus – we counterfeit…!

d. When “doing good deeds” replaces reliance upon Jesus for our salvation – we counterfeit…!

2. The best way to avoid the counterfeit Abundant Life – is to SHOW UP with the REAL JESUS!

a. Show up with the REAL JESUS at your job/school.

1) Your life is not your work – but your work is your mission field – bring the real Jesus to work and school with you each day – and enjoy the Abundant Life with Him!

2)  (II Cor. 2:14), “Thanks be to God, - who always leads us in triumph in Christ, - and manifest through us the sweet aroma of Christ in every place.”

b. Show up with the REAL JESUS in your marriage:

1) How you love your partner is a reflection of your love for God – so bring the real Jesus into your marriage and enjoy the Abundant Life TOGETHER with Him!

2)  (Eph. 5:31-32), “For this reason man shall leave his father… This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”

c. Show up with the REAL JESUS during the intervals of your life:

1) These are the times between “events” (work, school, dinner, etc.)

2) They are opportunities God gives us to focus your attention on Him – so bring Jesus into the intervals of your life – and claim the “abundant life”  a relationship with Him can bring!

3)  “…and He walks with me, as He talks with me, as He tells me I am His own…!”

CONCLUSIONS:

In this series of lessons – the real problem of the “Abundant Life” – is not that someone steals it from us …   
            the real problem is that we give it up – never knowing that they could possess it in the first place!

Today, do you want the abundant life that Jesus wants to give you (quote Jn. 10:10b)??

Then you will need to bring Jesus into your life and get rid of the junk…

(Heb. 12:1-2; Mk. 16:16), “…let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us,- and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…,” – “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved, but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”  Song #276 (refrain) x 2